A common belief is that Easter is about bunnies and eggs, a day that celebrates the coming of spring. Although Easter egg hunts are fun, and the blooming flowers are beautiful parts of God’s creation, there is something infinitely better to celebrate — the cross and the empty tomb.
On Easter, Christians gather to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The day is joyous with praise and thanksgiving for the gift of salvation that we receive through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Christians celebrate and declare this good news because it is foundational to our faith and hope.
Without the resurrection of Christ, we would still be lost in our sins and hopeless. Therefore, Easter is important to Christianity because it reminds us of Jesus’ resurrection, which impacts all areas of our faith and life.
1. Jesus Was Resurrected
On Easter (also known as Resurrection Sunday), believers celebrate the truth that Jesus rose from the dead. The Friday before, which is traditionally called “Good Friday,” Christ was crucified. He died and was buried that day in a tomb owned by Joseph of Arimathea (John 19:28-42).
The women saw where Jesus was buried and wanted to finish His burial ritual by anointing the body (Mark 15:47-16:1).
However, they had to keep the Sabbath, which began on Friday at sunset. Early on Sunday, they visited the place where Jesus was buried and found that the tomb was empty (Mark 16:2-4).
Not only did they find the empty tomb, but an angel announced the good news that Jesus was resurrected, and the women saw the risen Lord (Matthew 28:8-10; Mark 16:5-7).
Christ also appeared to the disciples, to his half-brother James, and to over 500 people at once (1 Corinthians 15:4-7). The good news of Easter is that Jesus Christ is risen!
To clarify, Jesus’ resurrection was not symbolic or imaginary. Paul carefully documented the numerous witnesses of Christ’s resurrection to show that it is credible and based on fact. Also, despite what some cult groups claim, the resurrected Christ was not a “spirit being.”
Jesus rose from the dead physically, which means He had a real body. He ate with the disciples after His resurrection (Luke 24:30, 42-43).
Furthermore, His hands and feet bore the scars from crucifixion (John 20:27). As the Lord told the disciples, “See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have” (Luke 24:39, ESV).
2. The Resurrection Validates Jesus’ Identity
Since Jesus rose from the dead, He proves that He is the Son of God, Messiah, and the Savior of the world. Jesus stated throughout His ministry that He would die and be raised to life on the third day (Matthew 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:19; Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:34; Luke 24:7, 46).
When the Jews asked Jesus for a sign to prove that He is the Messiah, He gave them the sign of Jonah, which is His death and resurrection (Matthew 12:38-40).
If the resurrection had never occurred, then Jesus could not have been the promised Messiah. Instead, He would be a liar because He said He would be resurrected. His identity as the Savior, Messiah, and divine Son of God rests on the truth of the resurrection.
The message that believers proclaim every year at Easter is that Jesus is who He claimed to be. He did raise from the dead, showing that He is the Savior, Messiah, and perfect Son of God. Through His resurrection, Jesus proved that His message and mission are true.
3. The Resurrection Is Foundational to the Christian Faith
During Easter, believers remember the resurrection because it is foundational to our faith, like the foundation of a house. Without this foundation, the house (and our faith) would not stand.
As Paul wrote in his letter to the Corinthian church, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17).
Without the resurrection, there would be no hope for salvation, eternal life, or a basis for faith. Paul described our state if the resurrection were not true: “if only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied” (1 Corinthians 15:19).
Christians would have no reason for sharing the gospel or dying for their faith because they would have no hope of heaven or assurance of a future resurrection.
All these rhetorical “what if’s” are not just an exercise in the theoretical. In our Western, secular culture, people commonly assume that all religions are equally true and valid.
However, Jesus is the only way to salvation, not one path among many (John 14:6). His resurrection is not merely a “religious” position I hold but a truth that I am willing to live and die for.
The entire Christian faith is based on the truth that the tomb was empty on that first Easter Sunday and that Jesus was physically raised, as Scripture declares (1 Corinthians 15:4).
Because He is alive, we have the promise of living forever with the Lord and being resurrected by Him at His coming (1 Corinthians 15:20-23).
4. Easter Reminds Us of Our Salvation
On Easter, we celebrate Christ’s resurrection and the salvation He has given us. God the Father sent His Son into the world with the mission of redemption and reconciliation (John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19).
Although He is God, Jesus became a man at the incarnation so He could die for the sins of humankind (Hebrews 2:14-15). Only Christ, who is fully God and fully man, could have done this because of His sinless humanity.
As the Suffering Servant, Jesus bore the sins of all people in His body at the crucifixion (Isaiah 53:5). He paid the sin debt we owe and took the punishment we deserve (Romans 3:25; 2 Corinthians 5:21). He was buried, and stayed in the tomb for three days before rising from the dead.
By believing in Jesus’ death and resurrection, people receive salvation from their sins (Romans 10:9-11). Only Jesus can save anyone since following a religion or doing good deeds will never bring salvation (Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:8-9). Therefore, Easter reminds us of the wonderful gift of salvation that Jesus gave us.
5. Celebrating Easter Serves as a Testimony to the Gospel
A final reason Christians celebrate Easter is that it serves as a testimony to Jesus’ saving work. During a day when others are focusing on spring, believers meet for worship and declare that Jesus is risen indeed. As the old Easter hymn declares, “Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!”
Through our celebration, we show the world the truth of the gospel message — that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose to life. He gave us new lives and an assured hope for the future (2 Corinthians 5:17; Hebrews 6:19). We cannot help but celebrate and praise Him.
Celebrating Christ’s saving work is not limited to Easter. Every day, we can cherish Jesus’ resurrection, choosing to honor our Lord and Savior.
Our lives can serve as an ongoing testimony to the gospel as we follow Jesus during special days and ordinary days. We can worship and praise our risen Lord daily.
What Does This Mean?
The good news of Easter, and every day, is that Jesus died for the sins of humankind and was resurrected. His resurrection shows that He is the promised Messiah, Savior, and divine Son of God.
Also, the truth of the empty tomb is vital to our salvation and foundational to our faith. Because He lives, we have hope, life, and an everlasting relationship with the One who loves us most. That is worth celebrating!
For further reading:
Why Do We Celebrate Jesus’ Resurrection on Easter?
6 Ways to Celebrate Easter This Year
3 Things Christians Should Know about Holy Week
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/artplus
Sophia Bricker is a freelance writer who enjoys researching and writing articles on biblical and theological topics. In addition to contributing articles about biblical questions as a contract writer, she has also written for Unlocked devotional. She holds a BA in Ministry, a MA in Ministry, and is currently pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing to develop her writing craft. As someone who is passionate about the Bible and faith in Jesus, her mission is to help others learn about Christ and glorify Him in her writing. When she isn’t busy studying or writing, Sophia enjoys spending time with family, reading, drawing, and gardening.
